Many visitors to Morocco only make it to Marrakech, the coast,
or High Atlas, but if you’re prepared to journey a little further east, boasting huge dunes of golden sand - The Sahara - awaits.
The Sahara, which covers an incredible 9.2 million km² (almost the size of China), is the hottest desert in the world, with an average annual temperature of 30°C, whilst the hottest temperature ever recorded was 58°C. Never the less, at night temperatures will drop dramatically, due to the lack of humidity, and can reach lows of -6°C.
Morocco has two major Saharan dune systems – or
ergs (the correct name).
- Erg Chebbi - Near Merzouga, just 20km from the Algerian border, with iconic dunes that tower up to 150m high, and;
- Erg Chegaga - 50km west of M’Hamid, were you can find the largest dunes in Morocco, reaching a massive 300m high (hard to reach, but located in a relatively untouched part of the Sahara).
Traveling to the Ergs demands a road journey of several hours, but the scenery along the way is unique. Hop out and explore remote kasbahs, valleys lush with date palms, fields where goats nibble wildflowers and orchards of hazel and almond trees.
Once in the Moroccan Sahara, tours can be customized to suit your time-frame, budget, and a range of other requirements. You can select from a variety of versatile options:
- Camel ride across the desert (one or several days);
- Is riding a camel not your thing? Then go for the desert safari by 4×4. Sandboarding is another possibility to enjoy the Sahara desert!
- Trekking across several villages;
- Sandboarding in the dunes;
- Nomadic Lifestyle (one or several days);
- Spending the night in a desert camp under the stars (Luxury or Traditional);
One thing is certain, whatever adventure you decide to chose!
The Desert will make you remember it forever!
THE MERZOUGA DESERT
